Men Plead Guilty To Assault Charges On Sikh Taxi Driver
WOODLAND, Calif. (CBS13) -- Two men have admitted to an unprovoked attack that left a cab driver with serious injuries, and one of the suspects admitted the assault was a hate crime.
Natomas resident Pedro Ramirez, 32, and West Sacramento resident Johnny Morales, Jr., 33, plead no contest to felony assault for the November 28 attack on Harbhajan Singh, a Sikh taxi driver who transported the two suspects from Harlow's Bar.
Ramirez called the driver a Muslim and shouted racial epithets before attacking him, punching him at least 10 times in the face. Morales joined the attack and began punching the man from behind.
Singh suffered multiple lacerations and fractures in his face and a broken spine, authorities said. Detectives tracked down the suspects by locating a fingerprint in the victim's blood inside the car.
Ramirez admitted his attack was a hate crime and agreed to a 13-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal. Morales could face a year in jail and will be put on probation.
The two men will be sentenced on April 1.
